Using the Body Language of Arms for Effective Communication
We instinctively use our arms both for attack and for defence. Our arms certainly are a huge section of our physical strength. It is not exaggeration to call our arms weapons; in the end, from punching to strangling to slapping, we’ve learned to utilize our arms in combat. The natural consequence of this is that your body language of arms is becoming an expressive communicator of aggression, dominance and strength in addition to for submission, weakness and protectiveness. Also, because it’s always an easy task to spot how a person is holding their arms, your body language of arms is probably the most easily read areas of all body language.
The Basics
Let’s have a look at the basic components of your body language of arms before shifting to discussing a powerful tool for using the arms in communication.
Relaxed Arms: the most relaxed position the arms could be in as down at our sides with the hands out from the pockets. That is neither aggressive neither is it submissive. That is also the very best position to utilize when meeting new people because it is friendly while still being confident and comfortable.
Aggressive Arms: Any flexing of muscles in the arms is indicative of aggression or of a will to dominate. Naturally, that is specially the case with men.
Protective Arms: Holding the arms while watching body is really a sign of protection. Here, the person will be covering the vital organs in their chest, throat or lower regions.
Arrogant Arms: Holding the arms behind the back so they are out of view is normally considered arrogant and will be observed in royalty.
acheter ruger sr 22 or Inviting Arms: Anyone who holds their arms outwards in order to expose their body to you is giving a clearly invitational sign, probably that you can hug them.
Using the Arms in Communication
So that you can use arm body language for effective communication there are two things you should know. Firstly, reading a person’s arms will reveal how they are feeling in what you’re saying (if you must also take context into consideration). Secondly, if you can make a person change the direction they are holding their arms you will change the direction they feel about what you are saying.
Let’s examine this just a little further.
Using the Feelings Associated to Arm Gestures to assist Communication
Let’s say you’re speaking with a business colleague and he’s standing along with his arms locked in front of his chest. From reading the above you now understand that he could be feeling protective. This implies he is apt to be scanning everything you’re saying for signs of threat (to safeguard himself against those threats). However, you want him to open up, relax and listen calmly to what you have to say. What now ??
In the aforementioned instance, you want the person to feel the feelings associated with holding the arms at their side, and that means you create some way of getting the person to move their arms to that position. Perhaps you provide them with something to carry, or you may just use relaxed conversation until they themselves move their arms to their side, whereupon you can return to your original subject.
The point is this: your body language of arms is directly related to the way a person is feeling. If a person begins to feel protective they will move their arms in front of their body. Conversely, if a person moves their arms in front of their body, this movement itself will make them feel protective.
I’m sure now you can see how important the body language of arms is in conversation. Be sure you make use of this valuable information. It will help in all your communications.